After 17-6 loss, Turkey Day may be headed down slippery slope

Of all the Thanksgiving traditions that are practiced nationwide, perhaps none is so sacred and holy as the annual clash of the Webster Groves and Kirkwood communities to celebrate a century-old rivalry with chili competitions, pep rallies, a community run … oh yeah, and football.

The annual Turkey Day Game is just as much a part of Thanksgiving for many families as turkey itself. The day is planned out years in advance: go to the game at high noon, come home to a feast and eat your heart out at 3, crash at 5.

These days though, something’s out of place. Something about the routine just isn’t the same.

Maybe it’s the fact that every year now when we take our seats at the Turkey Day Game and hear the iconic ringing of the Frisco Bell coming from the sideline of the previous year’s winner, we know exactly which side the ringing will continue to come from at the end of the game.

After a Statesmen fumble in the second quarter of their 17-6 Turkey Day loss, Webster and Kirkwood players dive for the loose ball. Photo by Page Kimzey

That’s because Webster has now lost to Kirkwood four straight years on Thanksgiving.

Now, you probably see that stat and wonder how I can possibly be so pessimistic. It’s just four years, right? It’s a series over 100 years old; both teams are bound to have droughts! In fact, Webster has fared very well the last couple decades considering the last time they lost even three straight Varsity games was between 1986 and ‘89.

The fact of the matter that can’t be ignored this time though is that Kirkwood has built a wide margin of depth and success between its football program and ours. The Pioneers are the State champions of the highest class in the state, well-established now as the best team in Missouri. They’re led by perhaps the greatest defense in school history.

Webster has been a sub-.500 team two years in a row … in the class below Kirkwood. Its offense has been inconsistent and hesitant to throw the football since losing former quarterback Rob Thompson a couple years ago.

It takes two Webster defensive backs to limit the Kirkwood passing game in a 17-6 Turkey Day loss, as juniors Jason Tuckson and Ted Cooper go up in pass coverage. Photo by Page Kimzey

That’s not to say that Webster’s players or coaches are epicly failing in any way. They actually all have done pretty honorably considering the circumstances. The unfortunate reality of those circumstances though is that the program has noticeably shrunk in numbers over recent years and as a result has been given less to work with. Meanwhile, Kirkwood seems to just keep growing. Webster can’t keep up.

Now, some optimists will attest that regardless of the current states of the programs, Webster proved this year that due to the energy and history of the rivalry, the Turkey Day Game will never cease to be competitive and exciting.

That’s the scary thing about this situation, though. Webster played an incredible game this year, and Kirkwood, still on its championship high, barely even showed up to play. And still, the Pioneers held Webster to single-digits and came out on top, 17-6.

The Statesmen actually kept Kirkwood out of the end zone for three entire quarters. Minus a three minute stretch in the second quarter when Kirkwood scored both of its touchdowns, Webster WON THE GAME. We clearly played an all-around better game, but that one lapse of intensity late in the first half highlighted by an interception was all it took for Kirkwood to waltz to victory anyways.

Senior second-team All-State running back Donovan Daniels was forced into a quarterback role on Turkey Day after sophomore John Doria’s injury. Daniels is under fire from Kirkwood’s State champion defensive line here and all game in the 17-6 loss. Photo by Page Kimzey

Senior second-team All-State running back Donovan Daniels was forced into a quarterback role on Turkey Day after sophomore John Doria’s injury. Daniels is under fire from Kirkwood’s State champion defensive line here and all game in the 17-6 loss. Photo by Page Kimzey

If it’s that easy for the Pioneers, if it takes them just three minutes of dominance to erase 45 minutes of Webster dominance, then what kind of competition do we really have here?

What makes the Webster-Kirkwood rivalry so great is the expectation that every year their game will be a toss-up. This tradition has stood the test of time because it’s perpetually been characterized by State-title-caliber play from both sides.

It’s not in the spirit of Turkey Day when everyone knows who the winner is going to be, and it definitely isn’t in the spirit when Kirkwood students halfheartedly rush the field at the end of a weak but expected victory they can barely brag about.

What needs to change to fix this dilemma isn’t what Webster could’ve done during three minutes to change the result of one game. The Statesmen need to look at the long term potential consequences of not fixing the pattern that is seeming to snowball more and more in Kirkwood’s favor. If Webster doesn’t build its program back to a quantitative size that can compete with the Pioneers’ growth, the Frisco Bell might not reside at WGHS for a very long time.

Whether that means stronger recruiting or more advertising of the program to the youngest audiences in the school district, I honestly don’t know. it’s this kind of thinking though, the prioritization and acknowledgement of middle school and even grade school students as the future, that needs to be given attention.

Kirkwood had Webster punting all day in a 17-6 Statesmen loss on Turkey Day. Photo by Page Kimzey

Without it, the Turkey Day rivalry could devolve to a one-sided rivalry, and we would be the laughingstock. We could someday even be the Cubs to Kirkwood’s Cardinals.

But hey, the Cubs may have just ruined that analogy for good by winning the World Series. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but maybe we could learn a lesson or two from the Chicago Cubs.

If we don’t, who knows? That unique annual dose of Midwestern Thanksgiving culture and history that we all love so much might not ever be truly felt again.

Hixson cancels annual activity fair

Assistant activities director Cliff Ice announced March 8, that the Hixson Activity Fair scheduled for March 14, has been canceled due to the potential school protests.

The fair provides an opportunity for Hixson eighth graders to talk to current Webster Groves High School students representing different sports and clubs.

The fair has not been rescheduled.

Musicians compete at Solo and Ensemble festival

Orchestra students earned awards in 10 events at the Solo and Ensemble festival at Parkway Central High School on Saturday, March 3.

Senior Jeremy Ling earned exemplary ratings in all three of his events and will also compete at State.

Those who received exemplary ratings and may compete at State for solo performances are Ling for Violin Solo, senior Alex Bird for Violin Solo, senior Anna Bussler for Violin Solo and junior Hope Johnson for Cello Solo.

Those who received exemplary ratings for ensembles were seniors Bird, Bussler, Brady Chrisler and Ling for Violin Quartet; and seniors Chrisler, Ling and Terry Johnson for Violin Trio.

Those who received outstanding ratings were freshmen Anna Tetreault and Ava Andrews for String Duet, senior Kelaiah Killmade for Cello Solo and freshman Nataly Meckfessel for Cello Solo.

Students earn service award

This award recognizes Americans who volunteer significant amounts of time to serve their communities and country and was granted by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program.

Seniors recognized as Missouri Scholars

Seniors Jack Snelling and Ethan Whitaker will be recognized by the Missouri Scholars 100, a statewide program that honors 100 of Missouri’s top academic students, at a luncheon in Columbia on April 22.

Photo of the Week

"To the adults who say we are too naive, too idealistic, too inexperienced and that we will not get this done: we would like nothing more to be in our classrooms right now." Elliot Williams said to the student who walked out to protest gun laws and the administration who watched to make sure everyone is safe on Wednesday, March 14. Photo by Riley Mullgardt